Years ago, on a business trip to somewhere, I was staying overnight at a budget-type motel. For breakfast, they had the usual line-up of bagels and donuts and then, right beside that usual breakfast buffet, they had a table of what was labeled “Healthy Options.” On this more health-conscious table were the same damn bagels and donuts…cut in half.
As ridiculous as this may sound, there is some wisdom to the strategy of cutting portions as a way of helping people make more healthy choices. It’s not that we can’t do it ourselves; it’s just that we’re maybe more likely to eat a little less if we’re served a little less – or even guided to the option of eating less on our own. Portion control is important. We Americans simply eat too much of everything. It’s not just a problem of eating high-calorie foods; it’s a problem of eating too much of all kinds of food.
A few weeks ago, I got home from our train trip, and there was a box in my mail containing several packages of Oreo Thins, the new and smaller, thinner version of the classic cookies that are now available in a range of new flavors like Mint and Golden (Vanilla).
I scoffed, at first, but then I tried one and wow, Oreo Thins were actually crisper than regular Oreos owing to higher cookie to cream-filling ratio. However, here’s the more amazing thing: eating two of the smaller ones was actually more satisfying than eating one of the regular ones. It’s all in the head, but what isn’t? Eating one cookie seems so self-sacrificing and ascetic, and if you’re going to be eating cookies, self-sacrifice is really not in the cards. When you have two cookies, it feels more like a proper treat.
I gave a package of Oreo Thins to my neighbor and even she, a fan of regular Oreos, liked them a lot, telling me she went out to buy more when the sample package was done.
Oreo Thins are available at Jewel-Osco in Oak Park.
These thinner cookies have more crunch and they satisfy in smaller quantities, which is a boon to all of us who have trouble controlling the portions we eat.
Oreo thins are a sign of progress in the science of cookie making. They’re good. I like them. And they may actually be better for us over-indulgent Yanks.
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